Prize(s) Honorable Mentions
Lighting Design/Product Company Ramboll Valostudio, Ramboll Finland Ltd, L I T E -designs, Sweco Finland Ltd, Reittitiimi Ltd
Lead Designers Coordination: Frei Zimmer Ltd
Other Designer's names Pasi Rauhala, Jaakko Niemelä, Kirsti Taiviola, Jaakko Pernu, Markku Viitasalo, Bratislav Toskovic
Client City of Kuopio
Photo Credits Vicente Serra, Raimo Pesonen, Wille Markkanen, Jape Tiitinen
Project Location Savilahti, Kuopio Finland
Entry DescriptionSavilahti in Kuopio is one of the most diverse urban development areas in Finland. The attractiveness of the area is increased by new learning environments, top employment opportunities and new residential areas. The construction of Savilahti began in 2018 and its sites will be completed in the longer term.
Savilahti's unique natural light has inspired us to utilise light in developing the area. The Circle of Light, or Valon kaava, project is an overall idea of light in every corner of Savilahti. Through art, light creates experiences. It brings the area together and strengthens its distinctive character and identity. In Savilahti, light is present in the names, art, design, lighting, and the utilisation of natural light. Light is also a special area of expertise for the local educational institutions and businesses. Light is landmarks, signage, and events. It is an emotion, a feeling, an activity: the light of life, brilliant thoughts and bright moments.
As part of the Circle of Light project, a Lighting, design, culture and art programme has been composed for Savilahti. With the Circle of Light program has already brought a wide range of light-inspired art and light art to the area.
The art created for Savilahti ranges from large environmental pieces to art built into the engineering structures and to the solutions directly integrated into construction and e.g. facades.
Sustainability ApproachThe Savilahti area is aiming to implement a uniform, harmonious urban lighting solution, and to reach this goal, the property owners, builders and the City work in close collaboration on coordinating the construction projects.
In Savilahti sustainability means considering the ecological, economic, social and cultural aspects of sustainability in the design and construction of the area. Kuopio aims to become a city with zero emissions, zero waste and a sustainable consumption level. The city aims to implement new and innovative low-carbon circular economy solutions in Savilahti that also serve as examples for other urban development projects. In Savilahti the aim of the projects has been to stretch the usual limits of urban planning to integrate innovation, sustainability, low-emission, and circular economy perspectives more deeply in the construction.
